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GAO Issues Report on Medical Device Pricing

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report looking at
the pricing and transparency of costs for certain medical devices,
focusing on implantables such as stents and artificial knees and hips.
The report was requested by U.S. Senators, and was designed to examine
the role that medical devices play in the costs of care.

"While MDMA supports efforts to enhance transparency in the health
care system, it is important to recognize that medical devices represent
a very small portion of total health care spending. Research and
studies consistently show that medical devices make up less than 5
percent of health care costs," said Mark Leahey, MDMA President and
CEO.

"This report highlights the need to determine what are the true
cost-drivers in health care, and MDMA reiterates our support for
Congress to examine group purchasing organizations (GPOs) and their role
in increasing costs by collecting billions in fees from suppliers,"
added Leahey.